Gen Z and Millennials are starting to move away from their phones and social media in order to escape the notifications, algorithms, and endless feeds. 

It’s called “digital detox,” and it’s a trend that has been growing. As reported by Axios, “Gen Z is buying old iPods again to escape the notifications, algorithms, and endless feeds that came with the smartphone era.” Why does it work? Classic iPods are single purpose. All you can do is listen to music—and escape all of the other digital clutter

Indeed, searches for “digital detox” nearly tripled between 2020 and early 2026. “Analog life” and “digital detox” searches saw a 100% increase over just six months as of April 2026. The trend is mainstream enough that demand for digital detox retreats has seen a 47% yearly rise among those aged 18–26.

It’s showing up in a renewed resurgence in print, too. We used to talk about the data almost in hopeful terms. Glean whatever positive data we can that supports the value of print and get it out there to remind ourselves that the industry is still a force to be reckoned with.

Heard the Term “Digital Detox”? If Not, You Will – WhatTheyThink